WWF news

WWF-UK has set out how the next government could put powerful voices for sustainability at the heart of the Whitehall machine, driving long-term action on species and habitat loss, pollution and climate change.

Almost 200 people filled the Terrace Pavilion at the House of Commons yesterday for a forest-themed reception as part of WWF’s Forest Campaign. The reception, held on the second anniversary of the EU Timber Regulation coming into force, highlighted the importance of preventing the UK’s trade in timber and wood-based products from contributing to global deforestation.

A report by WWF has found that the Treasury is the best performing department for implementing the government’s timber procurement policy designed to help the government avoid purchasing illegally or unsustainably logged timber. The Department for Education was bottom of the class whilst Defra was in the middle of the 21 central government departments who are meant to follow the mandatory guidelines, despite being home to the unit designed to assist Whitehall in managing responsible procurement. WWF’s report follows the government’s own Greening Government report indicating the government’s performance overall on timber procurement has been in decline.

A smarter approach to the UK's annual Budget, that takes account of the value of the natural environment and responds to global threats and opportunities from natural resource scarcity and climate change, would promote greater resilience and generate substantial benefits to the UK economy and businesses, WWF-UK claims today.

UN Patron of the Seas and WWF-UK Ambassador Lewis Pugh is currently limbering up to take on his greatest challenge yet, by being the first person to ever swim in five of the most southern-most waters in the world with no insulation or layers beyond his speedos.

UN climate talks opening in Lima on 1 December will be pivotal for the political will needed to craft a new global climate deal. Governments are expected to agree on the outline of an agreement to be approved in Paris in 2015.

Global wildlife populations have halved in just 40 years, according to the tenth edition of WWF's Living Planet Report 2014. Released today, the biennial report also highlights the urgent need for solutions to be found to humanity’s increasing demand on the world’s natural resources.